Can opener



y 15, 1951 J. F. HAGER 2,553,041

CAN OPENER Filed Apri1 21, 1948 la [a /5 K 20 22 A A2 l IN VEN TOR.

ATTORNEYS Patented May 15, 1951 UNITED STATES i 'IENT OFFICE CAN OPENER John F. Hager, Boise, Idaho Application April 21, 1948, Serial No. 22,471

2 Claims.

This invention relates to can openers of the rigid type and without moving parts, and in particular a can opener having a prong for punching holes in the edges of cans and a cutting blade for shearing the end of the can with a prong coacting with the blade and adapted to be inserted in an opening formed by the prong or over a bead at the edge of the can to provide a fulcrum for the cutting blade.

The purpose of this invention is to provide a can opener for cutting ends from cans which is of solid, one piece construction.

In order to compete with the common can opener on the market the can openers for removing the end of a can are comparatively inexpensive and where gears, journals, and cranks are used they are not durable and the useful life thereof is comparately short. With this thought in mind this invention contemplates a can opener adapted to remove ends from cans in which all moving parts are eliminated, and which may also be used to remove bottle caps and punch pouring openings in cans for fruit juice, milk, and the like.

The object of this invention is, therefore, to provide means for forming a can opener adapted to remove ends of cans, so that it may be stamped from a single piece of material.

Another object of the invention is to provide means for forming a can opener having a rigid blade wherein the blade may be actuated to cut the end from the can.

A further object of the invention is to provide a single piece can opener adapted to punch openings in cans and remove ends therefrom which is of a simple and economical construction.

With these and other objects and advantages in view the invention consists of the new and usein] combination, construction, and arrangement of parts as hereinafter more fully described, set forth in the claims appended hereto, and disclosed in the accompanying drawings forming part hereof, wherein:

Figure 1 is a plan view of the can opener showing the relative positions of the parts.

Figure 2 is a view showing a side elevation of the can opener.

Figure 3 is a view showing an end elevation of I The can opener is stamped from a straight strip or bar of material with the arm I I bent upward and with an arcuate portion ll connecting the arm to the base. In stamping the device the prong I2 is struck from the base Ill providing a V -shaped opening I8, and the prong is bent backward as shown in Figure 2 wherein with the arm II held in one hand the base may be positioned parallel to the side of a can and the prong forced downward into the upper end. This opening, formed by the prong, may be used for pouring liquid from the can, and a similar opening may be punched in the opposite side to provide a vent.

The cutting blade I3 may be struck from an opening I 9 in the base at the same time, and the finger l4 may be struck from an opening 29. The blade I3 extends downward with a sloping surface 2| and then across parallel to the base with the edges 22 and 23 sharpened to provide a knife.

With the parts arranged in this manner the finger I4 may be placed over a bead around the end of a can or through an opening provided by the prong I2, and the blade I3 may be worked into the side of the can under the end thereof so that the end may be cut from the can. With the prong providing an anchoring opening the can opener may be used to remove ends from cans without beads.

It will be understood that modifications may be made in the design and arrangement of the parts without departing from the spirit of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A can opener comprising an L -shaped member having a base and an arm perpendicular to the base, said base having a triangular-shaped cutter blade struck therefrom and positioned in a plane spaced from the plane of the base, and a comparatively small triangular-shaped finger also struck from the base and extended downwardly therefrom, said finger adapted to provide a fulcrum for the cutter blade in cutting around an end of a can.

2. A can opener comprising an L.-shaped member having a base and an arm providing a handle perpendicular to the base with a downwardly bowed arcuate section connecting the arm to the base, a triangular-shaped cutter blade with sharpened edges struck from the base and positioned in a plane spaced from the plane of the base, and a comparatively small triangularshaped finger also struck from the base and extended downwardly therefrom, said finger posi- 7 3 tioned to provide a fulcrum for the cutter blade Number in cutting around the end of a. can. 380,406 JOHN F. HAGER. 1,348,760 1,402,470 REFERENCES CITED 5 1 04 00 The following references are of record in the 1,667,360 file of this patent: 2,039,322 UNITED STATES PATENTS 2292452 Number Nt'ihe Date 10 268,281 Pumphery Nov. 28, 1882 4 Name Date Quentell Apr. 3, 1888 Stewart Aug. 3, 1920 Bauer Jan. 3, 1922 Whitney Oct. 19, 1926 Sweeny Apr. 24, 1928 Auge Aug. 10, 1937 Kulling Aug. 11, 1942 

